Introduction
One of the recent trends in workplaces is so-called pet-friendly policies, which include various programs to improve employee quality of life by recognizing pets’ importance as its essential component. They range from offering discounts on food and services to letting the staff bring their animal companions to work (Wilkin et al., 2016). The latter is a popular initiative that has proven benefits, especially when a person is prescribed to have one due to a disability. However, the policy’s challenges are also numerous and may overshadow the advantages, as pets are associated with many issues.
Main body
Currently, allowing employees to bring pets does not seem prudent. First of all, it may cause allergies and other diseases, such as zoonosis, among the staff, affecting their productivity (Foreman et al., 2017). Pets are a sensitive issue for some religions, including Islam and Judaism, so employees with those backgrounds will be unable to work properly (Wilkin et al., 2016). An employee may have a fear of dogs or another animal, whose constant presence will decrease their morale (Simpson, 2020). Other challenges exist, including property damage, pet-initiated trips, and bites (Foreman et al., 2017). Overall, the disadvantages indicate that allowing pets is associated with potential decreases in productivity and morale and health issues, so it might be beneficial not to adopt the policy.
Simultaneously, it is difficult to ignore general positive sentiments regarding animal companions. Thus, the company will start by adopting simple practices, including pet insurance and discounts. Those will become part of employee benefits, which may attract recruits and retain existing workers. Later, a more complex initiative of flexible schedules for employees who do not have anyone to oversee their pets might be introduced, which will require background checks and personal consultations. However, before implementing something as drastic as pets in the workplace, the company will conduct extensive preparatory work to ensure that it will not have the underlined negative effects for the majority. Altogether, some low- and middle-tier pet-friendly practices will be established to respect pet-owning employees.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the pet-friendly workplace policy of allowing employees to bring pets has demonstrated certain benefits, the challenges leading to decreased morale and productivity and other disadvantageous outcomes persist. Therefore, the company will introduce less drastic measures, including insurance, discounts, and a flexible schedule. They may still produce positive effects without affecting anyone, although the efforts to make pets available in the workplace will continue.
References
Foreman, A., Glenn, M., Meade, B., & Wirth, O. (2017). Dogs in the workplace: A review of the benefits and potential challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5), 498-519.
Simpson, D. M. (2020). Canines and cubicles: Dogs in the workplace. In L. Wilkin & T. Belak (Eds.), From discord to harmony: Making your workplace hum (pp. 277-288). Information Age Publishing.
Wilkin, C. L., Fairlie, P., & Ezzedeen, S. R. (2016). Who let the dogs in? A look at pet-friendly workplaces. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 9(1), 96–109.